Adrian man accused of possessing child pornography

5/17/2013

BY FEDERICO MARTINEZBLADE STAFF WRITER

Sean Gossman, of Adrian, was arrested by Lenawee County authorities in connection with child pornography.

ADRIAN - A 23-year-old Adrian man accused of possessing child pornography, including an image of a dead infant with a rope around her neck, will remain in jail until Monday when a federal judge decides if the suspect will qualify for bail.

Sean Gossman was arrested at his home in the Sterling Estates Mobile Home Park in Adrian on Thursday, following an investigation that began in early November, Cambridge Township Police Chief Larry Wibbeler said.

An investigation was launched after a youth found a computer thumb drive on Nov. 12 at an Onsted Township park, located in Lenawee County, Chief Wibbeler said. The youth’s parents notified authorities after viewing the image of the dead infant.

“It is chilling,” Chief Wibbeler told The Blade today. “No one knows where the picture was taken.”

But Chief Wibbeler said there is no indication that the dead infant or any of the other children that appeared in the photos were from the area. The FBI has declined to discuss the photos, but say the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities haven’t found any evidence to indicate that the suspect was preying on children in the park, but said that remains a concern.

“We believe he dropped the thumb drive out there in the park...,” Chief Wibbeler said. “We don’t know what he was doing out there. But, it’s very suspicious. It concerns me that someone carrying around something that sick would be out in the park.”

Cambridge Township Police initially set up surveillance around the park to see if anyone returned to search for the thumb drive. Cambridge officials then sought the assistance of the Adrian Police Department, the FBI, and the Crimes Against Children Task Force.

A search warrant was obtained on April 5 and authorities confiscated several computers and other evidence from the residence, but did not arrest Mr. Gossman at the time, Chief Wibbeler said.

Acting on a tip that the suspect was planning to leave the state, the FBI arrested him on Thursday, he said.

According to authorities, the thumb drive that was found at the park contained photos of Mr. Gossman as well as the image of the dead infant, who had a bag on her head, a rope around her neck, and message indicating that she had been raped, according to the FBI.

According to the FBI, Mr. Gossman admitted that he downloaded child porn.

Information from The Blade's news services was used in this report.

Contact Federico Martinez at: fmartinez@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.

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